THOMAS CONNELLY FROM COWIE SENTENCED AFTER THREATENING TO ABUSE CHILDREN IN STIRLING

In a disturbing incident that took place in Cowie, Thomas Connelly, a man with a troubling past, was involved in a series of alarming behaviors that culminated in a court appearance in Stirling. The events unfolded on December 17 of the previous year when Connelly, who was reportedly intoxicated at the time, made a distressing phone call to emergency services from his residence in Hilton, Cowie.

During the call, Connelly used the 999 emergency line to contact police officers, but instead of seeking help, he directed vile and threatening comments towards them. His language was aggressive and offensive, as he called the officers “f*****g c***s,” displaying a clear intent to provoke and intimidate.

Prior to this incident, mental health professionals had already flagged concerns about Connelly’s mental state. Police officers responded to reports of his behavior and arrived at his home to find him in a highly agitated and abusive mood. The officers engaged with Connelly for some time, during which he made a series of disturbing statements. He expressed a desire to be arrested and made explicit threats about re-offending, stating, “I will f*****g abuse wee boys” and “I will f*****g re-offend if you c***s don’t do something.”

Following these threats, Connelly was taken into custody. He appeared before Stirling Sheriff Court last month, where he pleaded guilty to charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, shouting, swearing, and making threats to harm children. The court was informed that Connelly had a long history of sexual offenses, including convictions for gross indecency dating back to the 1980s and 1990s. It was also noted that he was currently subject to an interim sexual offences prevention order, which is intended to restrict his behavior and protect the community.

During the court proceedings, bail was denied, and Connelly was remanded in custody to allow for the preparation of reports. His legal representative, Mr. Grant, described the case as “very complicated,” explaining that Connelly had initially sought help from his doctor to address “inappropriate thoughts” but had later turned to alcohol, a pattern he had exhibited many times before. Mr. Grant characterized the December incident as “a further cry for help” from Connelly, emphasizing that he was now actively engaging with his general practitioner and mental health services, which indicated a willingness to address his issues.

In sentencing, Sheriff William Gilchrist acknowledged the underlying concerns and mental health issues affecting Connelly. He emphasized the importance of ongoing monitoring, supervision, and community support. As a result, the court imposed a community payback order with a supervision period of three years, aiming to provide Connelly with the necessary oversight and assistance to prevent further incidents.